Since 1999, students, staff, teachers, and parents have been lining up to buy sweet treats for their loved ones, friends, and themselves on Valentines’ Day.
On the holiday, Bowie culinary offers a wide variety of sweets including chocolate-covered strawberries, heart-shaped shortbread cookies, chocolate truffles, and double fudge brownies.
“When I started working here, we only sold chocolate covered strawberries but, over the years we have added more items and have made our desserts more high-end,” Chef Richard Winemiller said. “We usually make about $4,000 from the sale which gives us a profit of about $1,200.” Winemiller said.
Many students work very hard on making the desserts while learning and developing the recipes. They start prepare from November to February when they start the actual creation process.
“I have been part of the Valentines’ Day bake sale for two years,” senior Laura Phillips said. “I really love doing the bake sale because chef not only teaches us how to make the recipes but he also teaches us like the science behind chocolate, and I think that is fun.”
Most bake sales usually have a few things leftover but in Bowies’ case that may not happen.
“Ever since I have been in culinary, we have never had leftovers and I don’t think we will. I say that because our desserts are very high quality and so delicious that they are worth the money,” senior Jasmine Murray said.
“I have been working at Bowie since 1999 and we have never, I mean never, have had anything leftover from our bake sales and I don’t think we ever will. If we do, it make us lose money and that would not be good,” Winemiller said.
There are many different holidays during the school year but culinary chooses to do this bake sale on Valentines Day.
“The big reason why we do this on Valentines Day is because many people give things to each other on Valentines’. I have never seen someone give their friend a brownie on Halloween unless they are like trick or treating,” Phillips said. “Also this year we started planning our gingerbread cookies on Halloween.”
The planning may be tedious but fter their hard work and dedication in the preparation process, the culinary classes will make their deliveries on Valentines’ Day, February 14th.